Author Archives: mankoto
Trails of Cold Steel and Trails of Cold Steel II head to PC
Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel will be coming off of PS3 and Vita and onto PC this summer and it’s sequel sometime down the line. The PC version will have 5,000 more voice lines (a 50% increase) as well as run at 60 frames per second.
Here’s a comparison video between the PS3 and PC version. Please note that the footage was shot at 30fps, but the game itself was running 60fps.
Here’s what XSEED has to say on the title
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel builds on Nihon Falcom’s beloved Trails franchise, improving on the series’ formula while delivering an expertly told, standalone narrative that both series fans and newcomers alike will enjoy. Taking place on the same continent as fan-favorite Trails in the Sky, Trails of Cold Steel further explores Erebonia and gives players a chance to delve deep into the inner political conflicts of this oft-mentioned and powerful empire. Players take on the role of elite military students at a time of great turmoil, who enjoy school life as they bond with fellow students to earn new abilities in battle, and then utilize those abilities via tactical turn-based combat. In between skirmishes, players can upgrade their party members with the “ARCUS” system – a streamlined version of the classic “Orbment” magic system from previous titles – allowing for greater access to abilities and quicker customization.
Screenshots:
XSEED Announces the Release Date for Trails in the Sky the 3rd
In a press release, XSEED has announced that Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky 3rd Chapter will hit Steam, GOG.com, and the Humble Bundle on May 3rd, at a price point of $29.99, €29.99, and £24.99. During it’s first week at launch however, it will be available for 10% off.
Here’s a quick rundown on the title from XSEED.
Half a year after the events of Trails in the Sky Second Chapter, Liberl has settled into peace once again—but even during peaceful times, there are many among the distinguished and fortunate burning with greed thanks to the influence of ancient artifacts. Most of the population remains unaware of their abuses of power, but to the most enigmatic order of the beloved Septian Church, the Gralsritter, snuffing out these would-be villains and claiming artifacts in their name is as everyday as professing one’s faith in the Goddess.
On the eve of another successfully completed mission, high-ranking member Father Kevin Graham is immediately assigned to retrieve one more artifact that rests beneath Grancel Cathedral. What’s more, even though this is a task he could easily complete on his own, he must reluctantly do so in partnership with his newest recruit, rookie Gralsritter and childhood friend Sister Ries Argent. Thus begins the start of a routine mission that becomes anything but, delving into a new and mysterious realm that follows an unnaturally strict set of rules: Phantasma. Therein, the history of the Septian Church and the pasts of the many familiar faces who took up arms for the sake of Liberl’s future will be laid bare – and some may have been better off staying forever sealed behind closed doors.
Widely considered the most challenging title in the series, players are encouraged to iterate upon the combat style they’ve come to know in the 3rd’s predecessors by either enjoying its in-depth story on Easy or crying with frustration on its unforgiving Nightmare difficulty. The brilliant music that the Trails in the Sky series is known for also returns, adding dozens of memorable new tracks as players work their way through the mysterious new realm of Phantasma.
Some screenshots
Danganronpa 1.2 Reload – Port Report
Platform: PS4
Original Developer: Spike-Chunsoft
Port Studio: Abstraction Games
Publisher: Nippon Ichi Software America
Rated: M
Release Date: March 14, 2017
Thank you NIS America for Providing a Review Copy of This Game
Danganronpa 1-2 Reload is a bundle of the original Danganronpa and Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. For those not in the know, Danganronpa (as well as its sequel) are about students from Hope’s Peak Academy. Students that go to this school are destined for success and are considered the very best in their field, whether it be the “Ultimate Programmer,” the “Ultimate Writer,” “Cook,” you name it. The conflict in these games, though, is that they’ve been kidnapped and are doomed to a Battle Royale lifestyle. They can choose to live in peace and harmony with their classmates for the rest of their lives, or alternatively: kill someone and get away with it. Unfortunately, through circumstances, one classmate kills another and you must find out who and why. Failing to do so will lead to each person dying, save for the murderer. Simultaneously, if you find out who murdered who, they will die. It should also be pointed out that Danganronpa 2 is actually a sequel to the first Danganronpa, so when playing this pack of the two games, be sure to play the first Danganronpa first.
Nier: Automata Review – Do Machines Dream of Electric Sheep?
Developer: Platinum Games
Publisher: Square Enix
Platform: PlayStation 4/PC
ESRB:M
Release Date PS4: March 7th, PC: March 17th
“Nier: Automata,” a game announced out of left field by Square Enix with series director and scenario writer Yoko Taro doing his usual duties with Platinum Games. The dream has finally been realized: a game created with the level of polish Yoko Taro deserves.
Gravity Rush 2 Review Laws of Mewton
Developer: SIE Japan Studio
Publisher: Sony
Platform: PlayStation 4
ESRB Rating: T
Release Date:
MRSP: $59.99
A retail copy was purchased by the reviewer for this review.
Gravity Rush 2 is one of the prime reasons why I love Japanese videos games. They tend to be filled with weird and fun ideas that just can’t be seen anywhere else— and this game is no different. Gravity Rush 2 has you play as Kat, the self-proclaimed “Gravity Queen” as she’s able to shift gravity to her will with the help of her cat, Dusty. The game takes place immediately after Gravity Rush Overture, a 20 minute animation that ends with Kat being separated from Raven and Dusty due to a gravity storm. Outside of the last few minutes, I wouldn’t say it’s a “must” watch, but it does help fill in some of the blanks. Naturally, it would be highly recommended if you played the first game as well as there will be a ton of returning characters.
NISA Event News Blowout Pt 2: Previously Announced Games with Release Dates
NISA just finished their press event where they went and talked about over 19 games where not only did they announced new games, but gave release dates for some previously announced games as well. Clinking on the name of the games will take you to the game’s website, granted some are more ready than others. Note: The Operation Babel link will take you to its respective Steam page.
NISA Event News Blowout Pt 1: New Games
NISA just finished their press event where they went and talked about over 19 games with some of them being new games. Clinking on the name of the games will take you to the game’s website, granted some are more ready than others.
Dynasty Warriors: Godseekers review – Musou in Ungodly Proportions
Developer: Omega Force
Publisher: Koei-Temco
Platform: PlayStation Vita*, Playstation 4
Release Date: Jan 31, 2017
ESRB Rating: T
*The Vita Version was used to review this game
Thank You Koei-Temco for Providing a Review Copy of this Game
Dynasty Warriors: Godseekers is a descendent of the Dynasty Warriors franchise, but is now in a Strategy Role Playing Game setting. This isn’t the first time the long lasting Musou franchise has become a SRPG, nor is it related to the previous one, so anyone can freely jump in.
Root Letter Review – The Root of the Problem Is…
Developer: Kadokawa Games
Publisher: PQube
Platform: PlayStation Vita*, Playstation 4
Release Date:
EU:October 28th, 2016
NA: November 10th, 2016
ESRB Rating: M
*The Vita version was played for this review
From big budget games over-hyping themselves and failing to live up to expectations, to a small, very niche title that isn’t as good as the premise made it out to be, disappointment comes in all shapes and sizes. Personally, I have a soft spot for niche titles. Bonus points if it’s a visual novel and even more points if it grabs me by the premise alone. Root Letter managed to do all three, making it love at first sight.
The Gaming Gamma 